Device for scoring cartons or the like



June 29, 1965 L. L. FALK 3,191,295

DEVICE FOR SCORING CARTQNS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 23. 1964 g QH/ I NVEN TOR.

[AWQ'WM Z. 21K BY United States Patent DEVICE FOR SCORING CARTONS OR THE LIKE Lawrence L. Falk, 364 Blanca Ave., Tampa 6, Fla. Filed Jan. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 339,796

1 Claim. (Cl. 30-2) This invention relates to a device for scoring cartons or the like and relates more particularly to an adjustable means whereby the sides of a carton may be weakened along a selected line in order to fold them down over articles contained within the carton.

As conducive to a better understanding of theinstant invention it is to be understood that shippers of goods frequently do not use a standard carton for the item being shipped, thereby necessitating the cutting down of a carton to the required size to pack the merchandise firmly. This problem is particularly incurred by manufacturers and jobbers who do'not receive orders for standard amounts, those utilizing used cartons, retail merchants for shipping goods to a customer or returning goods to the source, and many others. I

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a device for quickly and accurately scoring the sides of a carton or the like along a chosen line to facilitate folding the portions above the score line into tight contact with the goods to be shipped.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is completely adjustable so that a great variance is available in the selected depth of the score line. 7

Yet another object of the instant invention is the provision of such a device which will function to reproduce the chosen score line on a plurality of cartons or the like carrying similar articles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for scoring cartons or the like which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, utilize, and maintain.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a carton or the like showing a device in accordance with the instant inventive concept utilized therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the device with parts in section and with parts broken away for illustrative clarity and convenience;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIGURE 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in general, a standard carton or the like formed of cardboard or other suitable material is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIGURE 1 and includes four side elements 12, 14, 16, and 18 secured to each other along seam lines 20, 22, 24, and 26, a bottom element 28, and folded cover flaps 32, 34, and 36.

The device of the instant invention is shown generally at 38 and comprises basically an elongated support member 40, and a handle means 42, a scoring blade 44, and a guide arm 46 each carried by support member 40.

The handle means 42 may be fixedly secured to the support member 40 at any position intermediate the ends 3,191,295 Patented June 29, 1965 of the support member 40, preferably adjacent the end of the same carrying the scoring blade 44 for ease in handling. Alternately, the handle means 42 may be adjustably carried by the support member 40 as shown in particular in FIGURE 2 wherein the handle means 42 includes a handle member 48 having a reduced diameter portion juxtaposed to the support member 40 with a sleeve 50 surrounding the same and an internal bore 52 threadably receiving a bolt member 54 slidably carried in an elongated slot 56 defined in support member 40, with a washer 58 being interposed under the head of the bolt 54 if desired. Thus, the handle means 42 may be slidably positioned along the slot 56 and fixedly secured in a selected relationship by tightening the bolt means 54.

The scoring blade 44 is preferably secured to the support member 40 immediately adjacent one of its ends so that the device 38 maybe utilized very close to the bottom element 28 of a carton 10 or the like. For this purpose, the support member 40 is provided with an offset flange 60 carrying an upstanding fixed pin 62 and a securing means 64 spaced from the pin 62, the securing means comprising a bolt passing through an aperture in the flange 60 and a wing nut threadably secured thereon.

The scoring blade 44 includes portions defining an elongated longitudinal slot 66 adjacent one end and other portions defining an angular cutting means 68 adjacent its opposite end. The pin 62 and securing means 64 are slidably received in the slot 66 whereby the scoring blade 44 may be moved towards and away from the support member 40 and selectively fixed in an adjusted position by tightening the wing nut on the securing means 64. The spaced pin 62 and securing means 64 prevent any pivotal movement of the scoring blade 44 in use.

The guide arm 46 includes end portions 70 extending a greater distance from the support member 40 than the cutting means 68 on the scoringblade 44. The opposite end of the guide arm 46 is secured to a sliding block 72 by bolt means 74, the block 72 having a bore 76 therein corresponding to the cross-sectional configuration of the support member 40 and slidably received thereover with an adjusting means in the form of a threaded wing bolt 78 received through an aperture in the block 72 into securing engagement with the support member 40. If the support member 40 is formed with a slot 56 for selectively positioning the handle means 42, the diameter of the wing bolt 78 is larger than the slot so that it will engage portions of the support member 40 on either side of the slot.

The use and operation of the device of the instant invention will now be apparent. The guide arm 46 is selectively positioned on the support member 40 by loosening the wing bolt 78 and sliding the block 72 therealong to space the scoring blade 44 a desired distance from the guide arm 46. The means securing the handle means 42 and the scoring blade 44 may also be loosened and these elements may be adjusted in their relationship with the support member 40 as desired. The portion 70 of the guide arm 46 extending beyond the cutting means 68 on the scoring blade 44 is then rested on the upper edges of the carton 10 where the flaps 30, 32, 34, and 36 foldably engage the side elements 12, 14, 16, and 18, respectively. The guide arm 46 is then slid along these edges with the cutting means 68 on the scoring blade 44 being pressed against the side elements of the carton 10 to score the same as shown at 80 in FIGURE 1. The scoring operation may be continued around all four of the side elements as shown in dotted lines at 80 by merely continuing the sliding movement of the guide arm 46 along the upper edges of each side element. The cutting means 68 on the scoring blade 44 may then be utilized to cut the corner seams 20, 22, 24, and 26 of the carton 10 down to the score line to allow the portions above the score line to be folded inwardly into close relationship with merchandise within the carton.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved device for scoring cartons .or the like which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant :inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments ,hereinbefore shown and de-' scribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. e

.ended slot to preclude rotation of said blade about said bolt, a guide arm extending transversely from said support in parallelism tosaid flange and blade, said guide arm includinga fiat portion of a length greater than the combined length of said flange and said blade, a sliding block secured to one end of said flat portion, and having a at i slotted passage therethrough, said support member extending through said slotted passage; said block having a threaded bore therein intersecting said slotted passage, a bolt having a wing head extending through said threaded bore, said bolt having a diameter greater than the width of said central slot in said support, whereby to engage said support on opposite sides of the slot to clamp said block against sliding movement on said support, and a handle extending from said support on the side opposite said guide arm, and between said guide arm and said blade, said handle having a longitudinally threaded bore therein and a bolt extended through said central slot in said support and engaging in said last mentioned threaded bore, whereby said handle is releasably clamped to said support member and longitudinally adjustable thereon by loosening said last mentioned bolt.

References Gited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/37 Cofiey 3342X 1/51 Baran 30-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/29 France. 9/31 Germany. 

